Nectarine tree (Big Juan)

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a nectarine tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a large size, vigorous, hardy, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described approximately the second week in June, with first picking on Jun. 13, 1991. The fruit is uniformly large in size, excellent in flavor, attractively globose in shape, freestone in type, very firm in texture, and full red in skin color. The variety was developed as a hybridized seedling from the selected seed parent of Red Diamond Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165) and an unnamed nectarine seedling as the selected pollen parent.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, we,the inventors, typically hybridize a large number of nectarine, peach,plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. The present inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, which has beendenominated varietally as "Big Juan". The present variety was hybridizedin 1984 by us in a cultivated area of our experimental orchard atBradford Farms near Le Grand, Calif., in Merced County (San JoaquinValley). This hybrid seedling resulted from using Red Diamond Nectarine(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165) as the selected seed parent and an unnamednectarine seedling as the selected pollen parent. Subsequent toorigination of the present variety of nectarine tree, we asexuallyreproduced it by budding and grafting, and such reproduction of plantand fruit characteristics were true to the original plant in allrespects.

The fruit produced by the present variety is most similar to that of theMay Diamond Nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,454) by being full red incolor, by maturing in June, and by being freestone in type, but isdistinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruitthat is larger in size, that is purely yellow to the stone in fleshcolor, and that ripens 7 days earlier.

The present variety is similar to its selected seed parent, the RedDiamond (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,165), in fruit appearance by being a fullred colored freestone nectarine with excellent firmness, but isdistinguished therefrom and an improvement thereon by producing fruitthat ripens 28 days earlier.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph exhibits four whole fruits positioned todisplay the characteristics of the skin color and form, one fruitdivided transversely to the suture plane to reveal the flesh and stone,and typical leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics ofthis new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, the following has beenobserved under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand,Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at thestate of hard eating ripe on Jun. 16, 1991. All major color codedesignations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council,National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also usedoccasionally.

TREE

Size: Large.

Vigor: Vigorous.

Growth: Spreading and dense.

Form: Vase formed.

Hardiness: Hardy.

Production: Productive.

Bearing: Regular bearer.

Trunk:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Bark color.--Dark yellowish brown [78. d.yBr].

Lenticels.--Numerous. Color: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr]. Size:1/8" to 1/4", [3.2-6.4 mm.].

Branches:

Size.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Color.--1st year wood topside: Light grayish red [18. .gy.R]. 1st yearwood underside: Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Older wood:Grayish brown [61. gy.Br].

Lenticels.--Numerous, very small.

Leaves:

Size.--Large. Average length: 61/2" [165.1 mm.]. Average width: 15/8"[41.3 mm.].

Thickness.--Medium. Form.--Elliptical. Apex.--Acuminate. Base.--Acute.Surface.--Smooth.

Color.--Dorsal surface: Dark olive green [126 .d.d. Ol01G]. Ventralsurface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG].

Margin.--Finely serrate.

Venation.--Pinnately net veined.

Petiole.--Average length: 7/16" [11.1 mm.]. Average thickness: 1/16"[1.6 mm.]. Dorsal color: Moderate olive green [125. m. Ol G.]. Ventralcolor: Light yellow green [119. l .YG].

Stipules.--Numerous. Length: 3/16" to 1/4"[4.8-6.4 mm.].

Glands.--Numbers: 2, 3, or 4 per leaf.

Position: Mostly oppositely positioned on petiole and base of blade, butslightly offset. Size: Medium. Form: Reniform. Color: Moderate olivegreen [125. m.Ol 01G].

Flower buds:

Hardiness.--Hardy.

Size.--Medium.

Length.--Medium.

Form.--Free.

Surface.--Pubescent.

Flowers:

Blooming period.--Medium as compared with other varieties.

Size.--Small.

Color.--Moderate pink [5. m.Pk].

FRUIT:

Maturity when described: Firm but eating ripe, Jun. 16, 1991.

Date of first picking: Jun. 13, 1991.

Date of last picking: Jun. 21, 1991.

Size: Uniform, large.

Average diameter axially.--21/2" 63.5 mm.].

Average traversely in suture plane.--21/2" [63.5 . mm.]

Form: Uniform, symmetrical, globose with some slight truncation at thebase.

Longitudinal section form.--Round.

Transverse section through diameter.--Round.

Suture: An inconspicuous shallow line extending from the base to theapex, becoming deeper toward both the base and apex, extending to beyondthe pistil point.

Ventral surface: Rounded, lipped slightly on both sides.

Lips: Slightly unequal.

Cavity: Flaring, circular, suture showing on both sides.

Depth.--3/8" [9.5 mm.].

Breadth.--5/8" [15.9 mm.].

Base: Slightly truncate, with stem markings typical.

Apex: Rounded.

Pistil point: Some apical and some oblique, very short in length.

Stem: Medium.

Average length.--3/8"[9.5 mm.].

Average width.--3/16" [4.8 mm.].

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium.

Texture.--Medium.

Tenacity.--Tenacious to flesh.

Tendency to crack.--None observed as of yet.

Color.--Dark red [16. d.R] over a deep red [13. deep R] background withbrilliant orange yellow [67. brill.OY] stem marks typical.

Flesh:

Color.--Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y] to the stone.

Surface of pit cavity.--Covered with light yellow [86. l.Y]fibers.

Amygdalin.--Moderate.

Juice.--Abundant, rich.

Texture.--Very firm, tough, crisp.

Fibers.--Abundant, fine.

Ripens.--Evenly.

Flavor.--Acidic, but sweet.

Aroma.--Slight.

Eating Quality.--Very good.

STONE

Type: Freestone.

Form: Oval to oblong.

Base: Straight.

Apex: Acute.

Sides: Equal.

Surface: Irregularly furrowed toward the apex and pitted toward the thebase.

Ridges: Jagged toward the base.

Color: Light yellowish brown [76. l.yBr].

Pit wall: 1/4" [6.4 mm.] thick.

Tendency to split: None observed.

Kernel:

Form.--Oval.

Taste.--Sweet.

Viable.--Yes.

Average width.--9/16" [14.3 mm.].

Average length.--3/4" [19.1 mm.].

Color.--Pale yellow [89. p.Y] when first cracked.

Pellicle color.--Grayish yellow [90. gy.Y].

Amygdalin.--Scant.

USE

Market: Fresh and long distance shipping.

Keeping quality: Very good.

Shipping quality: Very good.

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to diseases: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although the new variety of nectarine tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Le Grand, Calif., inthe central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it is to be expected thatvariations in these characteristics may occur when farmed in areas withdifferent climatic conditions, different soil types, and/or varyiungcultural practices.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of nectarine tree, substantiallyas illustrated and described, which is most similar to May DiamondNectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,454) by producing early maturing, fullred, freestone fruit but is distinguished therefrom and an improvementthereon by producing fruit that is larger in size, that is purely yellowto the stone in flesh color, and that ripens 7 days earlier.